Popovers are delicate, hollow rolls that are a wonderful accompaniment to holiday meals. The best popovers have crisp, golden exteriors and delicate, soft interiors. However, if you've been putting off baking these treats because you think you need special popover pans to make them, now is your time to experiment. With this simple kitchen hack, you'll learn how to make popovers using standard muffin tins.
This recipe shows how to make classic popovers, and also includes an option for adding cheese. By stirring a bit of shredded cheese into the batter just before baking, you'll create popovers that are even more savory and delicious.
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Things You'll Need
2 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted (plus more for greasing the pan)
1 cup whole milk, lukewarm or room temperature
1 cup (5 ounces) all-purpose flour
1 tsp. kosher salt
1/2 tsp. granulated sugar
3 large eggs, room temperature
Optional: 1/2 cup + 2 Tbsp. shredded cheese, such as sharp cheddar or gruyere
Standard 12-cup muffin tins, 2
Blender
These rolls are known as "popovers" because they rise somewhat dramatically above the pan, much more so than standard muffins. For this reason, you will need two standard 12-cup muffin pans (not minis) so that you can leave an empty space between each popover.
Tip
Whole milk will yield best results, but 2% or 1% milk will still work. For a bit of added decadence, try swapping out 1/4 cup of the milk with cream.
2. Prepare the baking sheets
Place an oven rack on the lowest shelf and preheat the oven to 400°F. Very thoroughly grease 10 of the muffin cups with butter (baking spray will also work), alternating spots to allow room for the popovers to "pop over." Pour 1-2 inches of water into the unused cups to protect the pan from warping.
Warning
If the popovers get stuck to the pan, they are almost impossible to remove without breaking due to their hollow shape. To prevent this, make sure to butter the pan very well, including buttering slightly over the tops of the cups.
2. Combine the ingredients
Add the melted butter, milk, flour, salt, sugar, and eggs to a blender. Turn the machine on low to combine the ingredients, and then slowly turn the speed up to high. Puree for approximately 20-30 seconds until the batter is smooth and frothy. There should be no lumps.
3. Divide the batter and bake the popovers
Measure approximately 1/4 cup batter into the greased muffin cups. For cheesy popovers, stir 1 tablespoon of cheese into each cup, mixing with the batter. Place both pans into the oven next to one another on the same shelf (they can be baked in two batches if both pans don't fit at once).
Bake for 25 minutes at 400°F, then lower the temperature to 350°F and cook for an additional 20 minutes. Remove the muffin pans from the oven.
Carefully remove the popovers from the pan and serve immediately. Whether they're plain or cheesy, popovers are a fantastic addition to any holiday meal.
